Tango Blast may not make headlines in the same way as MS-13 or the Bloods or the Crips. However, it’s the largest gang in the state and makes up 20 percent of all gang members, according to a study of Texas gangs.
There are about 100,000 gang members in the Lone Star State, according to the Department of Public Safety’s Texas Gang Threat Assessment.
The TV station KXAN reported the most significant Texas gangs, listed as Tier 1 and posing the greatest threat, are found in most parts of Texas.
Tango Blast and associated gangs comprise more than 19,000 members in the state and. It’s seen as the most significant threat.
The other three gangs to top the Tier 1 list are Texas Mexican Mafia, with at least 4,100 members, Latin Kings, with about 1,300 members and the notorious Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), with at least 400 members.
The Department of Public Safety listed several factors in ranking the risk posed by gangs, primarily:
One gang that was downgraded this year to Tier 2 was the Texas Syndicate. The report said law enforcement investigations severely disrupted its membership. The Texas Syndicate was also impacted by the growth of Tango Blast.
Previous gang assessments have noted the rapid growth of Tango Blast’s membership in the Fort Worth area.
Latin Kings sustained their Tier 1 ranking despite a major police operation dismantling their membership in Central Texas, including a police bust that saw 61 arrests in 2015.
The report stated the most significant prison gangs in the region are the Bloods, Sureños, the Gangster Disciples and the Crips.
Motorcycle gangs have made headlines in recent years when a mass shooting occurred in a Waco bar. More than 150 bikers were arrested in a trial mired in controversy.
The Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang is a major biker gang in the state.
The assessment also notes that the Aryan Brotherhood and Aryan Circle, white supremacist gangs, are active from northern Travis County up to Bell County.
Texas is home to various gangs with the largest, Tango Blast, accounting for 20% of all gang members in the state. Other significant Texas gangs include the Texas Mexican Mafia, Latin Kings, and MS-13. The Texas Department of Public Safety assesses gangs based on violence levels, cartel ties, and state presence. Law enforcement efforts have weakened some gangs, such as the Texas Syndicate, while others, like the Latin Kings, continue to operate despite arrests. The report also notes the presence of biker gangs and white supremacist groups across Texas. If you are charged with gang membership on top of a crime you are likely to face an elevated sentence. Please call our Texas criminal defense lawyers today.
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